The story of football player Colin Kaepernick taking a knee for racial justice will not be seen on ESPN.
While ESPN Films had produced the docuseries of the NFL quarterback turned social justice advocate, the Spike Lee joint will no longer premiere on the sports network due to “creative difference.”
ESPN confirmed the news to Reuters in an Aug. 16 statement.
The docuseries began production in
2022, with the promise of delivering a “full, first-person account” of Kaepernick’s story as well as interviews from fellow NFL players. While the docuseries’ level of completion remains unknown, ESPN did disclose the project was not “reaching finality.”Kaepernick became a polarizing figure when be began taking a knee during the national anthem at NFL games to protest systemic racism and police brutality in 2016. The docuseries was supposed to detail the now 37-year-old’s decision as well as subsequent backlash and support.
Lee also remained mum on the feature’s unfortunate update as he signed a non-disclosure agreement. A day before the formal announcement of the docuseries’ scrapping, Lee told the news outlet of its shelving while on the red carpet for a fundraising event.
The canceled release comes amid prior reports by Puck of production delays. The center of the drama reportedly happened between Lee and Kaepernick over the series’ direction.
Kaepernick was the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2016 but suffered a huge blow in his football career over alleged blackballing stemming from his public political stances. He settled with the NFL in 2019 over the collusion allegations. He has not played for another team since leaving the 49ers.
Although the docuseries no longer has a home on ESPN, additional reports say the network’s chairman would allow the film to be released elsewhere.
RELATED CONTENT: Colin Kaepernick’s Team Addresses “False Narratives”